What's worse than being pulled over by a policeman? Being pulled over by a policeman with 3 impressionable children in the car....
"Mommy, why are we sitting here?"
"That policeman behind us wants to talk to me, honey."
"Why, Mommy?"
"I don't know, sweetie." (And really, I didn't.)
"Well, why is he just sitting in his car?"
"He's checking our license plate and making sure the car isn't stolen."
"Our car is stolen?"
"No! No, honey, it isn't. He's just making sure."
"Mommy, are you going to go to jail?"
Turns out I had rolled through a stop sign (barely, okay? I all but did a complete stop, dammit) waaay back, and then I was so busy explaining to my kids the difference between a limo and a hearse (don't ask) that I didn't see the police car following me with his lights flashing. Duh. When I finally spotted him, I pulled over thinking he needed to pass me. That's how innocent I felt. Really.
When he came to the driver's window, I felt as though I were being arrested by my teenage son Theo, as the cop looked all of 19 (which he may have been - he was an MP on an Army base). One great thing about being stopped by an MP is they sure are polite. Ma'am this, and ma'am that - hey, I may be a criminal, but I still get respect. And he let me off with a warning. I could have pinched his sweet baby cheeks, I was so grateful. But I didn't. I drove off (carefully) and made it to the commissary without being stopped again. And with the kids pointing out every single stop sign all the way there.
You probably batted your eyelashes at him (kidding!)
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonder we don't all get arrested with kids in the car.
I remember those MPs well. My only experience with them was when I slid off the road into the ditch. He put a flare RIGHT UNDER MY EXHAUST PIPE. Idiot. I quickly kicked it out of the way.
ReplyDeleteWhen the kids were littler I think they gave me warnings just 'cause they were worried about what would happen to the 4 kids in the back if I was under any more stress!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you got away with a warning. I personally think it was your beauty and charm that got you off the hook.
ReplyDeleteOh I just adore this post! I am quietly laughing as to not wake up my hubby next to me....yeah, I'm the one with the laptop in bed - so attractive, eh?
ReplyDeleteI really think you should have pinched his cheeks! ;)
Thanks for stoppin' by my blog today...so glad you did so that I could come by your neck of the blog world!
~melody~
mrs. g. - Now why didn't I think of that? He probably goes for mature women. Or (more likely), I looked like his mom (sigh).
ReplyDeleteI once got told by a MP that I could not legally make a left in the particular spot that I had just made a left. He was very very serious about it. It was all I could do not to giggle. So cute. I bet he had to shave at least every three days. I just wanted to pinch his cheeks and tell him how proud I was of him for being so serious about his job. I refrained and he let me off with a stern warning!
ReplyDeleteIf they're like my children, they will continue to point out every stop sign for you, for the next 5-10 years, too. Isn't that helpful of them?
ReplyDeleteGlad it was a warning. What did it say? Warning: Do not drive with children in the car?
You're so lucky. I got stopped for speeding on the way home from taking my kids to say goodbye to my dying mother. Really. And got a ticket anyway. Really. And then the state trooper left me on the side of the road in hysterics while other cars whizzed past going much faster than I had been, and I was scared to death we'd all get killed but too hysterical to drive. That was a fun, fun day. Every time I drive past that stretch of road I think of it.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got only a warning.
ReplyDeleteYou've reminded me of an experience with the long arm of the law that now I have to get to writing. Thanks for the inspiration.
Oh, in case Humor Blogs loses my review yet again, I think you're awesome and I visit regularly even if I don't always post.
You do realize your kids will never forget this, right? And that they told your hubs aaallll about it. And that they will point out every stop sign until they start driving themselves.
ReplyDeleteGlad you just got a warning. ;)
I hope you flirted at least a little.
ReplyDeleteOnce, over two years ago, on the way to school, I barely tapped the car in front of me. (It caused the tiniest scratch.) But to this day, I hear from my kids about the wreck we had on the way to school, and how scary it was for them. (Scary, was me wearing something not much better than pajamas, on the side of the street, with the parade of school-bound cars going past. Pretty.)
Don't you just hate it when those young whipper snappers call you "ma'am"? I always do!
ReplyDeleteSigh. I remember when I went from being "Miss" to being "Ma'am."
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're never going to live this down - with the kids and certainly not with Larry.
I had that happen as well on a military base! I wasn't as lucky to get by with a warning and it sounds as though my MP wasn't nearly as cute!
ReplyDeleteMy son was about three when I was pulled over. For about a year after that he would see a police car and say "oh shit".
ReplyDeleteGosh, I detest being called ma'am. But you know what - I'll take it (with enthusiasm), if it means no ticket.
ReplyDeleteFunny post.
I cannot tell you that I have never been pulled over with my kids with me. No, I can't say that because of Murphy and his stupid law.
ReplyDeleteI will say that I got out of a ticket, too. And I was alone!!! Go Figure.
Great post!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it's incidents like this that the kids NEVER forget. Well, that and when you kind of hit a dog on a rural country road (don't ask).
I'm afraid I've never lived either down.
You make me laugh. The young cop, the inquisitive children, the allusion to your hearse vs. limo convo. That's good stuff. And I'm so glad that post didn't cost you any money!
ReplyDeleteMommy, are you going to jail?
ReplyDeleteI would have said, "Honey, I hope so, then I could get a full night's sleep with no interruptions, and some peace and quiet for 24 hours, and maybe eat a meal without having to cut up some food, and oh what a luxury would that be!"
Glad you didn't get a ticket though!
I got pulled over once with the kids in the car, for running a light. THE LIGHT WAS GREEN FOR LIKE A QUARTER OF A SECOND. I told the cop this too, that the light is so short you can't even get through it before it turns.
He let me go. I have such charm! ha
Hahaha! I can just see them pointing out every stop sign on the way back. LOL!
ReplyDeletepolice people make me nervous!! Glad you and the kids didn't get put in the slammer!
ReplyDeleteOh my!! That's funny. I was once pulled over but not until the police car had FOLLOWED me -- as I puttered along at a paranoid snail's pace-- for about six blocks. I pulled into the parking lot of an elementary school where my parenting class was; Stryker and Scarlett were four and two. I remember wishing very much I was not wearing my bona fide harley motorcycle jacket and boots, which I thought made me look very SUSPICIOUS.
ReplyDeleteTurns out my plates had expired!! Like four months ago. My uncle had actually given me the station wagon I was driving and I didn't even think about the tabs. The cop let me go but told me to fix that IMMEDIATELY.
Stryker was very concerned we were headed toward jail.
OK, I'm totally tempting fate here, but I don't think I ever come to complete stop and haven't EVER gotten pulled over for it. Glad you just got a warning!
ReplyDeleteThose kids - always helpful. This summer our family drove across country and back (like 7000 miles all told) and my helpful twins pointed out every single MPH sign, just to make sure we weren't speeding. Nice.
ReplyDeleteUgh! There's nothing worse than getting pulled over with kids in the back. You're never exactly sure what they might say to make things worse... AND then they lord it over you all day, too.
ReplyDeleteUgh! Aren't all policemen kids these days!? Bravo for handling it well with YOUR kids in the car. I guess it's best they learn about those things when it's relatively minor...
ReplyDeleteHyper-vigilant, traffic sign spotting children -- oh no! I hope they forget about it soon.
ReplyDelete